The dollar exchange rate during trading on the Moscow Exchange rose by 73 kopecks. up to 77.4 rubles, according to the data of the site. Thus, the exchange rate of the American currency against the ruble has updated its maximum since April 2021.
The euro exchange rate is also growing by 1.13 rubles. up to 87.84 rubles. at 19.19 Moscow time.
According to the results of the main trades, the Russian stock market fell by more than 2%, and by the end of the whole week – by 4.4%, according to the Moscow Exchange. The Moscow Exchange Index at the close of the main trading session fell by 2.18% to 3439.25 points, the RTS dollar index – by 3.36% to 1401.88 points.
The Russian currency is weakening against the backdrop of a Bloomberg publication that the United States is considering evacuating the families of diplomats from Ukraine due to the pulling of Russian troops to the border. According to the prepared evacuation plan, diplomats can leave the country voluntarily, and the evacuation of their family members is considered mandatory.
In addition, volatility in the Russian markets is taking place against the background of the recent meeting between Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Geneva. The Secretary of State following the meeting said that Russia should withdraw troops from the borders with Ukraine to confirm the absence of plans to “invade” the country.
Materials about Russia’s alleged plans to invade Ukraine appeared in the Western media last fall. Thus, Bloomberg, citing US intelligence data, argued that about 100,000 Russian soldiers could invade the territory of the republic from three directions at once. In addition, the media still publish reports of the accumulation of Russian military on the border with Ukraine. At the same time, the Kremlin and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have repeatedly denied information that Russia has such plans. They noted that the country moves troops at its own discretion within its territory and is not going to attack anyone.
Amid reports of an alleged Russian invasion of Ukraine, a number of US senators from the Democratic and Republican parties have prepared packages of sanctions that affect both politicians and businessmen, as well as restrictions against transactions with Russian public debt and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.